Some Problems Of Translating Early Jaina Texts

Here's a comprehensive summary of B.K. Khadabadi's "Some Problems of Translating Early Jaina Texts":

The article, "Some Problems of Translating Early Jaina Texts" by B.K. Khadabadi, addresses the significant challenges faced when translating ancient Jain literature, particularly early Prakrit texts, into English. The author emphasizes that this endeavor is crucial for the advancement of Jaina studies globally.

Historical Context and Current State:

• Pioneering Work: The author highlights Hermann Jacobi's translations of the Ācārāṅga-sūtra, Kalpa-sūtra, Uttarādhyayana-sūtra, and Sūtrakṛtāṅga in the late 19th century as the foundational and systematically planned efforts in English translation of early Jaina Prakrit texts.
• Limited Progress: Despite subsequent contributions from various foreign and Indian scholars, Khadabadi points out that a complete English translation of even the main canonical texts remains elusive, let alone the exegetical and other cognate works. The lack of thorough critical editions further hinders this progress.
• Call for Action: The author stresses that waiting indefinitely for critical editions would significantly slow down the translation process. Therefore, he advocates for proceeding with translations using available editions.

Essential Qualifications for Translators:

Khadabadi outlines the necessary expertise for a translator of early Jaina texts:

• Linguistic Proficiency: A strong command of Prakrit grammar, along with a comprehensive lexicon of Jaina terminology related to dogmatics, doctrines, and philosophy.
• Contextual Understanding: Deep knowledge of the religio-historical and socio-cultural background of the texts.
• Comparative Skills: The ability to conduct comparative studies of related texts.
• English Mastery: A more than ordinary command over the English language.

Specific Translation Challenges:

The article delves into the unique difficulties encountered:

• Archaic and Pithy Nature of Prakrit: The language itself is ancient and concise, often requiring supplementation for clarity in English.
• Supplementation and Annotation: To convey the full meaning, translators often need to add explanatory words in brackets or use footnotes, as a direct, literal translation might not suffice.
• Fidelity vs. Creativity: Khadabadi argues that a true translation must balance fidelity to the original with creative rendering to achieve expressiveness. He uses an example of translating a line about compassion in religion, showing how a literal translation can be improved for clarity and impact.
• Translating Sūtras: For aphoristic texts (sūtras), a "free translation" method is often necessary to grasp the intended meaning.
• Translating Verse: Translating verse is particularly challenging. Metrical translation demands specialized knowledge of English metrics, poetics, and vocabulary. Prose translation is generally more successful, but contextual metrical quotations can benefit from free verse translation to add variety and beauty, as demonstrated with an example from the Uttarādhyayana-sūtra.
• Adapting to English Expression: Translators must sometimes adjust their word choices to suit the "genius" of the English language while remaining faithful to the Prakrit original. Khadabadi illustrates this with his translation of a hymn line, where "bow" or "bow down" for the Prakrit word felt inadequate, leading him to use "kneel" for better resonance.

Conclusion and Call for More Indian Scholars:

Khadabadi reiterates that the problems discussed are not exhaustive. He notes the significant pioneering role of German scholars in Jaina studies and translation. The author concludes with a strong appeal for more Indian scholars to actively engage in the systematic translation of early Jaina texts into English. This, he believes, will be instrumental in promoting Jaina studies among Western audiences and those who use English as their primary medium for higher learning.